Bentley discusses path that led him to the Capitol

Sunday

Jan 23, 2011 at 12:01 AM

The journey began when he announced his intention to run for Alabama's highest office two years ago at a family dinner.

By Carolyn MasonTuscaloosa Magazine

Gov. Robert Bentley was still candidate Dr. Robert Bentley when we met with him and his family at his Tuscaloosa home, a few weeks before the election. The air was thick with tension from updates about a last-minute flurry of political maneuvers, but he appeared unruffled as he and his wife, Dianne, led us to the living room for the interview. The retired dermatologist, 67, was sitting in a comfortable arm chair, answering questions about everything — his childhood, his college days at the University of Alabama, courtship, marriage, fatherhood, faith and interests. The tall and lean Bentley speaks in a quiet, thoughtful manner that's unexpected in a politician and more akin to that of a doctor advising a patient. In fact, there's very little about Bentley that conjures up the image of a modern, stereotypical politician, and there's been understandable curiosity about this dark-horse candidate with the courtly bedside manner who was always an improbable, unforeseen long shot.
The journey began when he announced his intention to run for Alabama's highest office two years ago at a family dinner. Everyone was sitting around the table when he casually dropped the news, like a packet of Splenda into an ice tea. Although nobody remembers exactly how he worded it, either he was going to “run” or “win” or maybe a combination of both, his intention was clear: he intended to become the governor of Alabama.
Nonetheless, who says that and then actually does it? Who sits around a dining room table and calmly announces he's going to run or be governor other than those that have been born, bred and groomed for it?
Bentley, a first-generation college student who rushed through the University of Alabama in three years, in a hurry to get to medical school, didn't follow the path of most politicians. In a nutshell, he grew up poor, worked hard, excelled in school and fell in love with a girl he knew from physics class. He then went to med school, married, served in the military and moved to Tuscaloosa, where he opened a dermatology practice. He fathered four sons — all biblically named and raised — retired from his medical practice and ran against Sen. Phil Poole in 1998, lost by 57 votes, and then ran for state representative from House District 63, which he won. He served two terms and then entered the primary for governor, funding his campaign by mortgaging his house and drawing from his retirement. He narrowly made the GOP runoff, won that, and a few weeks ago, took the entire election with 56 percent of the vote.
Alabama's Republican primary was a taut, tension-filled episode with a crowded field engaged in business as usual, a boiling, oozing cesspool of anger, rhetoric, innuendo and malice. Meanwhile, Bentley, a political outsider, managed to not only take the highroad, but bush hog his own path around the sludge. Many in the state wondered how a candidate who started with only 7 percent of the vote ended up walking away with the grand prize. Tuscaloosans who know Bentley as their dermatologist, First Baptist Sunday School teacher and deacon, and as a father, husband and, of course, avid Alabama football fan, say the answer lies in the story of a life lived according to faith, family and core values.
Tuscaloosa Magazine: Tell us about your childhood in Shelby County.
Robert Bentley: I was born in a rural area outside of Columbiana. We had no electricity, no indoor plumbing and no automobile. Our only transportation was the log truck that my daddy had. When I was 6 years old, we moved to Columbiana. I remember seeing all of our furniture and our cow on the back of the truck.
TM: The cow?
RB: (laughs)Yes, the cow stood on 1-by-12s on the back of the truck. It was quite a sight to be seen. We were poor, and I cut grass for extra money. When I was a teenager, I did odd jobs, worked in a bait shop and painted houses.
TM: What did you want to be when you grew up?
RB: Naturally, I wanted to be professional baseball player.
TM: But you excelled in academics?
RB: Yes. We couldn't afford kindergarten, so I didn't start school until I was in the first grade. My father, David Harford Bentley, worked at his sawmill, and my mother, Mattie Boyd Vick Bentley, took care of me and my brother and three sisters. My mother finished the ninth grade and my father finished the seventh grade. They were both really smart but didn't have the opportunity for formal training. My dad was the smartest man I ever knew. I was internally driven to do well in school. In high school, I was president of the student body, valedictorian of my class at Shelby County High School and a member of the debate team that won the state championship. We had really good teachers in Columbiana and I was blessed with supportive parents who gave unconditional love. I always had the desire, from early on, to do well.
TM: Why did you choose the University of Alabama?
RB: I was always a Bama fan. I remember walking to school and hearing the news that Coach Bryant had been named to coach the Crimson Tide. When it came time for college, there was no doubt about where I would go. I worked hard to save for tuition, earned scholarships and my parents helped me some. At one point, my father sold 40 acres of land for $2,000 to help me with college.
TM: What were your college years like?
RB: I was very focused on getting through college as quickly as possible. I started out majoring in aeronautical engineering and then transferred to pre-med and graduated in three years with a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry. Even though my courses were heavy in math and science, I loved history, especially American history before 1865. One of my most memorable professors was history professor Dr. Alexander. It was during this time that I realized medicine was my calling. Still, I told friends that if I could do anything else, it would be to serve as governor of Alabama.
(italics or some treatment that it's not part of the q and a)After Bentley graduated from UA he started medical school at The University of Alabama School of Medicine, graduated with his M.D. in 1968 and then began his internship at Carraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham. In 1969, Bentley joined the United States Air Force, in which he was commissioned as a captain and served as a general medical officer. He was stationed at Pope Air Force Base near Fort Bragg, N.C., where he became hospital commander near the end of his tenure. While in the service as a general medical officer, he treated many military dependants, active-duty service members and wounded soldiers. He is a member of Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion and says he feels a special affinity for veterans and a life-long compassion for their needs)
TM: What was it like to serve in the military during the tumultuous Vietnam era?
RB: The time during Vietnam was very difficult. Soldiers were not treated well. They would come back from the war and had a terrible time of it. They were spit upon and ridiculed. Instead of honoring them, they were mocked. Protesters of the war blamed the soldiers who were drafted and only doing what they had been asked to do. I felt great appreciation that I was able to serve my country by taking care of Army soldiers. I plan to continue the work I started in the legislature on behalf of veterans.
TM: How did you and Dianne decide to make Tuscaloosa your home?
RB: We really wanted a city about the size of Tuscaloosa to raise a family. We already had two sons and thought this would be a good place to settle down and start my dermatology practice. Plus, as lifelong Alabama fans, we always felt a pull toward Tuscaloosa.
TM: So, you went to a lot of games?
RB: Yes. The whole family went to all the football games and always sat in the bleachers. One of the things that helped my practice was my relationship early on with Coach Bryant. I had only been here for about three months when he came in as a patient. I became good friends with him and his family. Over the years, I've known most of the other coaches as well. To this day, I still sit in our same seats and prefer that over being in a skybox.
TM: Where did you go on vacation?
RB: We have had a place at Gulf Shores since 1987 and always took lots of family trips in the summers. Between four boys, there were always sports events such as basketball, soccer and football. Our family attends First Baptist Church, and the boys grew up involved in the youth activities and sports.
TM: How do you relax?
RB: I like to fish and have enjoyed owning hunting property in Greene and Sumter counties. I can really relax when I get the opportunity to bush hog.
TM: How would your physician background blend with your role as governor of Alabama?
RB: I think the two are naturally compatible. In order to be governor, you should be intelligent enough to grasp what you have to do. But you also have to care for the people. In this time, when the economy is not good and people are hurting, people have gravitated toward me because they feel like I care. In fact, I slip into the role of doctor when I talk to individual voters. I find myself listening to them like I would if they were a patient. I think that comes through to the voters.
The interview ends when granddaughters Anna Claire, Caroline, Mary Boyd, Katie and Taylor rush Bentley outside to pitch to them while they take turns at bat, calling “Papa, watch me!” as they play. He grins broadly when they get a hit.
A few weeks later, he's standing on the stage at The Zone at Bryant-Denny Stadium after defeating Ron Sparks in the governor's race, surrounded by family and friends as the crowds cheer and sing along to Lynyrd Skynyrd's “Sweet Home Alabama.” “I'm going to be the governor of everybody,” he tells the crowd. “Starting tomorrow, from this day forward, whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, black or white, it doesn't matter because I care about you.”